history

ACM's annual Campus Ministers Retreat

The Association of College Ministries (ACM)is a mutually supportive fellowship of campus ministries associated with non-denominational Christian Churches, a body of approximately one million members in the United States. Each member organization is independently administered by its own governing board and membership in the ACM is entirely voluntary. The ACM serves only as a support organization, and in no way regulates or governs its member ministries.

Having established church-related colleges throughout the nineteenth century, in 1893 the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ founded a Bible chair at the University of Michigan, which offered college-level Bible classes and spiritual nurture. When separations took place among the churches (resulting in the now-entirely separate bodies called the Disciples of Christ and the Churches of Christ-non instrumental), the independent Christian Church focused on planting Bible colleges across the nation. At least four of these Bible Colleges are located adjacent to state university campuses in order to provide mutual benefits. Following World War II, Christian Churches began to address the spiritual needs at the state universities where so many of their children studied; in addition, some congregations started local church-based outreaches to their universities. Richard Carpenter began full-time work at the University of Kentucky and Gerald Gibson began working at the University of Minnesota in 1958. Dr. Stanley Smith pioneered the ministry at the University of Illinois in 1963. By the end of the 1960’s, Christian Churches claimed over 30 campus ministries.

In 1963 a voluntary association of campus ministries among Christian Churches, known as the National Association of Christian Student Foundations (NACSF) was formed. In the 1990’s the name was changed to “The National Association of Christian Campus Ministries” (NACCM). In 2009 the organization became known as the “Association of College Ministries” (ACM). The elected officers plan annual campus ministers’ retreats and student conferences.

The ACM provides support services for member ministries and communicates to its members and to the general public through such means as this website and the advocacy of a National Representative. As of 11-3-2010 @ 3:05 EST there are approximately 110 ACM ministries in the U.S., distributed primarily throughout the Midwest and Southeast. No standardized labeling or logo has been established for member ministries. The various ministries wear a wide variety of names, the most common being “Christian Student Fellowship” and “Christian Campus House.” Most ACM member ministries are overseen by regional boards comprised of representatives from supporting congregations. Financial support for these ministries comes voluntarily from churches, alumni, and other interested individuals.

ACM campus ministries are extremely trans-denominational in student involvement. Programming tends to include large group Bible studies and/or worship times, small groups and opportunities to serve the local community. Mission trips form an important dynamic of most campus ministries, and thousands of alumni are now serving as full-time ministers and missionaries. Beginning in the 1990’s U.S. ministries have partnered with various mission organizations to plant campus ministries outside the United States. Currently ACM campus ministries are operating in Europe, Asia, Australia/Oceana, South America, and North America (non-USA).

Resources: Dickey, Doug. Campus Ministry, College Press Publishing Company 1994 Garrison, Charles. Forgotten Christians. College Press Publishing Company 1967 Swinney, Greg, editor. Taking Education Higher. LifeChange Media 1993 Thomas, Roger, editor. The Gospel Goes to College. NACSF 1975 2010-11 ACM Officers